Fact:Refrigerators are the single biggest power drains in most
households--accounting for 9-25% of a household's total energy consumption! A
typical refrigerator made around 1990 uses about 900 kilowatt-hours per year.

Use 20-50% less energy.

Save as much as $120 per year on
your utility bill.

Reduce indoor noise.

Help the environment.

Best Features:Look for the Energy Guide label to see how much electricity,
in kilowatt-hours (kWh), the refrigerator or freezer will use in one year. The
smaller the number, the less energy it will use. When purchasing your appliance,
look for the following:

Energy Star®-labeled units
because they exceed Federal standards by at least 20%.

Top freezer models because they
use 7-13% less energy than side-by-side models.

16-20 cubic foot size (maximum
energy-efficient models).

Models without automatic
icemakers and through-the-door dispensers because these features increase
energy use by 14-20% and add $750-250 to the purchase price.

Models that do not have an anti-sweat
heater unless you want to consume 5-10% more energy.

Save Money:Operating one large refrigerator/freezer is less costly
than operating two smaller refrigerators/freezers. You can save more money if
you...

Replace a refrigerator that
is 15 years or older with a new, more efficient unit.

Keep frost build-up to ¼
inch or less by defrosting your manual-defrost refrigerators and freezers
regularly.

Make sure your refrigerator
and freezer door seals are airtight.

Keep the doors closed as
much as possible, and make sure they are closed tightly.

Avoid overcrowding, because
too many items obstruct air circulation and reduce cooling capabilities.

Set your temperature gauges
to 37-40°F for fresh food and 0-5°F for frozen food.